Method for finishing the raw edges of coated fabric or the like



Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

a Ign- Mai #63 Patented Dec. 5, l922.

UNHTEE STAT eerie ceennns a. ranoo, or cmcaco, ILLINOIS, AssIen'oa T0 wrnson-aonns LOOSE LEAF r comranv, a coaroraa'rxon or xmrnors.

METHOD FOR, FINISHING- THE RAW EDGES OF COATW FABRIC OR THE LIKE.-

names. filed April 27, 1921.

To all whom it may omwern:

Be it knownthat 1, CHARLES R. FARGO, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident fabric or the like to give the same a smooth and pleasing appearance. In the manufacture of pyroxylin coated fabric or artificial or substltute leather, a woven fabric or the like is usually covered with a mixture or composition of cellulose or p yroxylin, a. drying oil and a solvent, which, after evaporation, leaves a tough elastic and durable film thoroughly impregnated in. the fabric. In some instances the fabric is coated with a mixture of pyroxylin, glue, or gum sandarac or shellac and solvents, in other cases nitrocellulose and rubber composition is used. The artificial leather so manufactured is usually sold to the trade in rolls or sheets and must be cut into blanks of proper size according to the use to which it is intended edges, the sheared edges will appear somewhat fringed or tufted and not smooth, due to the raveled edges. of the fabric, and to remedy this objection l have found that the above described compositions will readily fuse and seal .the raw sheared ends of the fabric. And it is therefore an object of this invention to provide a simple and efficient method for removing the fringes and sealing the raw edges of the coated or treated fabric. And it is a further object of this invention to provide a novel apparatus for aiding in accomplishing the same. My in vention comprises the novel features of pro cedure and structure hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of this invention, and in. which similar reference seiai 465,071.

numerals refer to ferent views:

Figure If is a perspective view of a clamp supporting a stack of sheared imitation leather blanks.

Figure 2 is a section through an individual blank illustrating the fringed or tufted edges at the left, on an enlarged scale. s

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the finished edge, on an enlarged scale.

As shown on the drawings:

lln carrying out my method, I first stack a convenient number of cut blanks, the edges of which it is desired to finish, in superimsimilar features in the difposed relation with the edges in alinement and compress the same. I then appl a torch or the like to the fringed edges to singe the fringes and at the same time heat and fuse the fusible imitation leather composition at the upper and lower parts of the edges so that the same will run over the sin ed edges and seal the same, as is shown in %igure 3,

the heat of the singeing flame being sufiicient for this purpose.

- lln the drawings, there is illustrated an a paratus to aid in carrying out this method, t e same comprising a pair of plates 1, each having an area corresponding substantially to the area of the cut blanks. A convenient number of blanks 2, the edges of which it is desired to finish, are stacked in superimposed relation with their edges in alinement between these lates 1, which are then pivotally clamps of a U-shaped clamp 4-. A screw 5 is shown adjustably screw-threaded through the upper jaw member 3 to pivotally contact the upper plate. A similar screw or pivot support extends from the lower jaw member so that the plates and blanks therebetween can pivot or rotate on the axis of the pivot screw 5. The U-shaped clamp 4: can be supported in any approved manner and the torch applied to the edges to singe ofl' the tufts or fringes and at the same time heat the composition used,- which, if of a fusible nature as previously described, will fuse under said heat and run over the edges and seal the same. The blanks are compressed between the plates by means of the screw 5 and as the plates 1 cover the total area of the blanks, the same will be compressed over their total area so that the fusion of the imitation leather composition must be confined to the exposed edges and cannot penetrate the compressed area and spoil the blanks.

From the foregoing it Will be apparent that I have invented a new method for finishing the raw edges of pyroxylin coated fabric, or imitation leather, that is simple and efficient and have devised a suitable apparatus to aid in preparing said method.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through a Wide ran e Without departing from the principles of tfiis invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. The method of finishing the raw cut edges of fabric blanks treated With a fusible cellulose composition or the like, comprising stacking a plurality of blanks in superimposed relation with their edges in alinement, compressing the same and singeing the edges and fusing the composition for sealing the said edges.

2. The method of finishing the edges of fabric blanks coated and impregnated with a fusible composition of nitrocellulose or the like, comprising stacking a plurality of blanks in superimposed relation With the edges in alinement, compressing the total area thereof and simultaneously singeing the edges and fusing the composition to seal the edges.

3. The method of finishing the edges of I CHARLES R. FARGO. Witnesses CHARLES l/V. HILL, Jr., CARLTON HILL. 

